⚽UEFA Champions League Discussion Thread -- 2021/22 winner - Real Madrid!

[condoras]

Besiktas v Dortmund will be one of the interesting matches of the first week I think. Of course, Dortmund are highly favoured in a match like this even though they are the away team. Haaland is the biggest threat for Besiktas. I think that Besiktas should be focusing on defending more than attacking first. Because Dortmund's attacking line is very deadly and they can end the game even with early goals. All Besiktas need to do is to keep being patient and take advantage of opportunities. Otherwise, they won't be able to prevent themselves from losing here easily.

Well, there is a bunch of games that will be interesting to watch this week. Villareal - Atalanta, Lille - Wolfsburg, Man City - Leipzig, Liverpool - Milan, and of course my favorite for the premier of the CL, Inter vs Real Madrid. As for the match that you mention, I agree that Besiktas can do a lot but defend and wait for an opportunity. Still, approaching a game based only on defense, you can't expect much. Maybe if they risk it a bit, can keep Dortmund lines lower and have a break from their attacking waves. Because Dortmund will play aggressively either Besiktas play defensively or adopt a more "attacking" approach.

[1714709264]

1714709264

[skarais]

condoras, for some reason you don't mention the Barcelona vs Bayern Munchen match as one of the big games in the first round of the Champions League this season. I'll be looking forward to some and ignoring some of these first leg match, of course I'm really looking forward to just the big games like:
- Barcelona vs Bayern Munchen
- Inter vs Real Madrid
- Atletico Madrid vs Porto
- Liverpool vs AC Milan

I'm sure 4 of the 16 Champions League first-leg match are the ones we're most looking forward to, but that doesn't mean the other 12 are worth ignoring (maybe just me). I don't have enough time to watch them all. Only those 4 match have caught my interest so far.

[Pulsar77]

condoras, for some reason you don't mention the Barcelona vs Bayern Munchen match as one of the big games in the first round of the Champions League this season. I'll be looking forward to some and ignoring some of these first leg match, of course I'm really looking forward to just the big games like:
- Barcelona vs Bayern Munchen
- Inter vs Real Madrid
- Atletico Madrid vs Porto
- Liverpool vs AC Milan

I'm sure 4 of the 16 Champions League first-leg match are the ones we're most looking forward to, but that doesn't mean the other 12 are worth ignoring (maybe just me). I don't have enough time to watch them all. Only those 4 match have caught my interest so far.

These are really the biggest matches on the first week. I really wonder what will happen in the Liverpool vs Milan game.    I still remember the unbelievable final game in the 2005 CL final. And these two haven't played against each other in the CL since 2007. This time, I see that Liverpool are much more stronger against Milan. I think that Milan have not much chance in this game. In Anfield, I believe that Liverpool will beat them.

[beerlover]

The PSG team has 4 Argentine players. Messi will not have a problem with Di Maria and Icardi. On the other hand, Neymar's partnership with Messi is remarkable. Messi can easily adapt to Neymar. Ramos has played in La Liga for so long, maybe he was an enemy of Messi, but he is a professional athlete and they were playing almost the same strategy in La Liga. Messi can easily adapt to Ramos. Coach pocchetinno Argentina. There may be some issues with adapting to Wijnaldum and Mbappe. Hopefully, very soon he will be able to put himself in a better position.

I am sure he is doing all of that and trying to learn more about Wijnaldum and how he plays in order to get better. However, Mbappe situation is a bit different, it is different for the whole club even though they have been together for so long. The reason why it is different is the fact that dude decided to leave, he is not signing any contracts and there is a 99%+ chance that he will leave for Real Madrid next season for free as well, making PSG a bit worse team.

So, the whole team is aware of this, and playing with a player that wants to leave them, how do you think that impacts the players? Plus, Messi has incentive to dislike him even more, dude has been a huge Ronaldo stan since he was a kid, and Messi knows this, even the fact that Mbappe wants to leave for Real Madrid comes from his love for Ronaldo, meaning Messi doesn't need to feel anything to him at all.

[Swordsoffreedom]

So, the whole team is aware of this, and playing with a player that wants to leave them, how do you think that impacts the players? Plus, Messi has incentive to dislike him even more, dude has been a huge Ronaldo stan since he was a kid, and Messi knows this, even the fact that Mbappe wants to leave for Real Madrid comes from his love for Ronaldo, meaning Messi doesn't need to feel anything to him at all.

It would have been better for PSG if PSG had tried to sign Ronaldo by selling Mbappe to Real Madrid. Since Messi joined PSG, Mbappe seems to have lost interest in staying at PSG. If he plays against PSG against his will, PSG will not get better performance from him like past. Secondly he would not be interested in collaborating with Messi. PSG's dream of winning Champions League title will not come true if players do not cooperate with each other.

[Raflesia]

It would have been better for PSG if PSG had tried to sign Ronaldo by selling Mbappe to Real Madrid. Since Messi joined PSG, Mbappe seems to have lost interest in staying at PSG. If he plays against PSG against his will, PSG will not get better performance from him like past. Secondly he would not be interested in collaborating with Messi. PSG's dream of winning Champions League title will not come true if players do not cooperate with each other.

It was impossible for PSG who tried to sign Ronaldo only too complacent of his ambitions for the UCL and Ronaldo would not be willing.

About Mbappe's satisfaction, it feels like that, even I read the news that Mbappe was a little angry at the PSG management for not letting himself go to Real Madrid, which was so expensive, even though this is what Mbappe hopes to start with his new club.

I'm sure over time Mbappe and Messi can collaborate to win the UCL with a solid squad and this was a bit of a problem at the start of the transfer window when Mbappe wanted to leave PSG.

[ShowOff]

It would have been better for PSG if PSG had tried to sign Ronaldo by selling Mbappe to Real Madrid. Since Messi joined PSG, Mbappe seems to have lost interest in staying at PSG. If he plays against PSG against his will, PSG will not get better performance from him like past. Secondly he would not be interested in collaborating with Messi. PSG's dream of winning Champions League title will not come true if players do not cooperate with each other.

You seem so worried about the intimacy between the players Messi and Mbappe at PSG. Messi is a superstar who PSG brought in for the team to win the title, the players should be more concerned with the team and professionalism than their own ego. Messi, Neymar, Mbappe have been involved in so much PSG training, so I hope in this way they will unite with each other to help PSG win games and win title. Mbappe had to accept Messi's presence in the team, and now he just has to pay PSG a huge fee for him with this season's Champions League title alongside their new superstar "Messi".

[Cafex]

So, the whole team is aware of this, and playing with a player that wants to leave them, how do you think that impacts the players? Plus, Messi has incentive to dislike him even more, dude has been a huge Ronaldo stan since he was a kid, and Messi knows this, even the fact that Mbappe wants to leave for Real Madrid comes from his love for Ronaldo, meaning Messi doesn't need to feel anything to him at all.

It would have been better for PSG if PSG had tried to sign Ronaldo by selling Mbappe to Real Madrid. Since Messi joined PSG, Mbappe seems to have lost interest in staying at PSG. If he plays against PSG against his will, PSG will not get better performance from him like past. Secondly he would not be interested in collaborating with Messi. PSG's dream of winning Champions League title will not come true if players do not cooperate with each other.

Mbappe might be thinking that he will be less important after the Messi transfer. Messi is one of the legend footballers in history already now. It is normal that Mbappe feels like this. However, playing at Real Madrid has always been Mbappe's dream to be honest. He was aiming to leave the team to join Real Madrid even before PSG signed Messi. So it is very obvious that PSG won't be able to keep him at the club for a longer time than this season.

[Swordsoffreedom]

It would have been better for PSG if PSG had tried to sign Ronaldo by selling Mbappe to Real Madrid. Since Messi joined PSG, Mbappe seems to have lost interest in staying at PSG. If he plays against PSG against his will, PSG will not get better performance from him like past. Secondly he would not be interested in collaborating with Messi. PSG's dream of winning Champions League title will not come true if players do not cooperate with each other.

You seem so worried about the intimacy between the players Messi and Mbappe at PSG. Messi is a superstar who PSG brought in for the team to win the title, the players should be more concerned with the team and professionalism than their own ego. Messi, Neymar, Mbappe have been involved in so much PSG training, so I hope in this way they will unite with each other to help PSG win games and win title. Mbappe had to accept Messi's presence in the team, and now he just has to pay PSG a huge fee for him with this season's Champions League title alongside their new superstar "Messi".

I'm really worried. I am a fan of Messi. I want him to have one more UCL cup in his hand before he retires. And that's why he came to PSG. Now if Mbappe doesn't behave professionally, and builds a good friendly relationship with Messi, winning the UCL title will be very challenging for PSG. It is very important for the players to have a mutual understanding to play well.

[Silberman]

He could gotten a goal but Mapabbe was too selfish

This is going to be the problem of the PSG team and unless they find a way to work together as a team, they will not be much of a threat in the champion league. They can dominate their local leagues but it takes more to become a champion in the big league as only team with the right chemistry with in themselves make it to the top here.

Last season Chelsea's chemistry with in themselves was the reason they succeeded, they were not the most threatening team but when they played they played for themselves and not individually. I think the coach has a lot of work to do if he wants his team to be successful, already they have a lot of individual talent but now they need to cooperate effectively.

That is called synergy, which happens when the combination of different factors produces something greater than the sum of all of the individual parts that form a new whole, all teams in the UEFA Champions League are talented and have star players, but we have seen many teams that were full of stars and still played terribly while others that were not as good played incredibly because of this, however if PSG can achieve that then without a doubt they will have a legitimate chance to win the whole thing.

[Slow death]

games that I will bet because in my opinion they have good odds:


Bayern Munich - FC Barcelona



I'm still analyzing that game, but I'm more inclined to bet on Bayern Munich and BTTS


Real Madrid -  Inter



I'm still analyzing this game too, but I think I'll go for a real madrid victory or maybe I'll bet on the under 3


Ajax Amsterdam - Sporting CP

I'm thinking of betting on BTTS, it will be a game where both teams scored

[Luzin]

I also agree that Barcelona are really no match for Bayern Munich now. If they had Messi at least and not Griezmann, they would still be able to do much better against Bayern Munich.

I think it will look interesting this match, it's still a big game. Although I remember in 2020 in the quarter-finals they lost 2-8 to Munich. They still had Suarez and Messi. But they were helpless by the greatness of the Munich game. They had to suffer from the 4th minute by Muller's goal. Tomorrow I don't know but it looks like it will be worse because Barca lose Messi, Suarez, Griezman. Although they have Depay who played quite well at the start of the season.

About Mbappe's satisfaction, it feels like that, even I read the news that Mbappe was a little angry at the PSG management for not letting himself go to Real Madrid, which was so expensive, even though this is what Mbappe hopes to start with his new club.

They will have to wait for the next transfer window, although they can try to make an approach. But reading in some media Madrid have to prepare big funds to buy mbappe, because their first offer has been rejected.

[kawetsriyanto]

~snip~

That's exactly one of the reasons I stated "Messi can adapt well to PSG game style" because he already knows well some key players in PSG. Regarding adaptation with Wijnaldum and Mbappe, I think he just needs less than 5 matches to know well their characteristics in playing. Messi is a smart player and it makes him can reach the top level, so we don't be afraid he can adapt with all PSG players. Also, he is already experiencing as a captain of Argentina's national team for some years. It makes him have a great ability to know each player's characteristics.

[Swordsoffreedom]

~snip~

That's exactly one of the reasons I stated "Messi can adapt well to PSG game style" because he already knows well some key players in PSG. Regarding adaptation with Wijnaldum and Mbappe, I think he just needs less than 5 matches to know well their characteristics in playing. Messi is a smart player and it makes him can reach the top level, so we don't be afraid he can adapt with all PSG players. Also, he is already experiencing as a captain of Argentina's national team for some years. It makes him have a great ability to know each player's characteristics.

Messi is experienced and friendly. If Mbappe is mature enough. And with the PSG team, if he wanting to touch the Champions League title. Then he will do his best to adapt to Messi. Building the best-attacking lineup in the world by building good bonding with both Messi and Neymar. Of course, the coach has to play an important role here.

[SirLancelot]

~snip~

That's exactly one of the reasons I stated "Messi can adapt well to PSG game style" because he already knows well some key players in PSG. Regarding adaptation with Wijnaldum and Mbappe, I think he just needs less than 5 matches to know well their characteristics in playing. Messi is a smart player and it makes him can reach the top level, so we don't be afraid he can adapt with all PSG players. Also, he is already experiencing as a captain of Argentina's national team for some years. It makes him have a great ability to know each player's characteristics.

Honestly he won Copa America finally this year, but he has been playing with his national team for so long without winning anything at all. That should tell you that it is not always so easy for Messi to adapt to any player that easily, certainly not under 5 games. However, these players are not that much of a stranger to him, I still think Mbappe will be a difficult one but aside from that PSG will definitely be a team that is dangerous to play for anyone in the world. They just need to build chemistry up, forget about all this Mbappe crisis, play to win and get a good strategy from the manager that will be perfect fit for this club as well.

[ShowOff]

That's exactly one of the reasons I stated "Messi can adapt well to PSG game style" because he already knows well some key players in PSG. Regarding adaptation with Wijnaldum and Mbappe, I think he just needs less than 5 matches to know well their characteristics in playing. Messi is a smart player and it makes him can reach the top level, so we don't be afraid he can adapt with all PSG players. Also, he is already experiencing as a captain of Argentina's national team for some years. It makes him have a great ability to know each player's characteristics.

Messi's adaptation at PSG has been a hot topic so far both on social media and in this thread. I wouldn't worry too much about it because I know Messi is a unique player. He is a winger who is currently no longer interested in his individual achievements "I guess" but he is also a good passer for his team-mates. If Mbappe doesn't want to give him a assist, then Messi will give him a assist. That's what will happen. In the Champions League, I would like to see Messi, Mbappe and Neymar in the line-up. I'm really curious as to what they will do in that match.

[kawetsriyanto]

Honestly he won Copa America finally this year, but he has been playing with his national team for so long without winning anything at all. That should tell you that it is not always so easy for Messi to adapt to any player that easily, certainly not under 5 games.

No, it doesn't tell anything about Messi's adaptation!! Messi has done a good contribution to his national team, even they cannot win any trophy, we cannot blame Messi. In my view, Messi has no problem with his adaptation both in the club and national team. I don't say it is a must to adapt under 5 matches, but that's my prediction. What's wrong with guessing he can adapt well under 5 matches? By the way, you must note that judging a player adapt well or not, should be from how good he can play with other players. Don't judge it based on winning or not a club, that's not the responsibility of 1 player but all players and the coach!

[Pulsar77]

There is only one week left for the first games of the new Champions League season. We see a much stronger PSG and Manchester United now after signing Messi and Ronaldo. I don't know if Manchester United can make it to the final. But I believe in PSG to make it there very much. As long as Messi adapts to this new game plan, things will get much easier for them. This time, they should be able to win the title with the new trio.

[AndySt]

Honestly he won Copa America finally this year, but he has been playing with his national team for so long without winning anything at all. That should tell you that it is not always so easy for Messi to adapt to any player that easily, certainly not under 5 games.

No, it doesn't tell anything about Messi's adaptation!! Messi has done a good contribution to his national team, even they cannot win any trophy, we cannot blame Messi. In my view, Messi has no problem with his adaptation both in the club and national team. I don't say it is a must to adapt under 5 matches, but that's my prediction. What's wrong with guessing he can adapt well under 5 matches? By the way, you must note that judging a player adapt well or not, should be from how good he can play with other players. Don't judge it based on winning or not a club, that's not the responsibility of 1 player but all players and the coach!

The most important problem of the Argentina national team has always been that the team did not match the level of Messi in its level. On the one hand, this is not surprising, given the fantastic playing level of Messi and the number of golden balls won by him by the best player in the world. On the other hand, in any case, the team must somehow adapt to this in order to win titles. We saw perfectly well on the example of Barcelona at the time that it is possible to choose such a composition of players who looked great with Messi and won not only at the local Spanish level, but also in the Champions League. Moreover, Paris Saint-Germain is not experiencing any financial problems and has assembled a decent squad to solve the highest tasks. But the great thing about sports is that it's not always money and the stardom of the squad that decides everything and the other teams also have chances.

[hahay]

There is only one week left for the first games of the new Champions League season. We see a much stronger PSG and Manchester United now after signing Messi and Ronaldo. I don't know if Manchester United can make it to the final. But I believe in PSG to make it there very much. As long as Messi adapts to this new game plan, things will get much easier for them. This time, they should be able to win the title with the new trio.

So, it's all just about Messi and Ronaldo?
For me it can't be used as a guarantee but about PSG, I still see it as a team that might make it to the final but not for Manchester United. It's not about Messi and Ronaldo, because the two teams have different squad depths and in this case PSG are still the most superior compared to United. There are still many other top teams and even though Ronaldo has returned to Manchester United, but for me United will still find it difficult to go further even to reach the semi-finals for Manchester United I still doubt it.